§ Colonel Ponsonbyasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any statement to make as to the future of the national defence companies; and what was the total of enlistments at 1st January and 1st November 1937, respectively?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaUp to 1st January, 1937, there had been 211 enrolments of officers and 5,131 of other ranks for the National Defence Companies of the Territorial Army. On 1st November last these numbers had increased to 253 and 6,307 respectively, and in addition 206 applicants were in process of enrolment.
594WThe role of the companies is to protect important points in Great Britain when war is threatening or has actually broken out, but members of the force will not be called up until these conditions arise, nor will they be called up on account of civil disturbance.